A noted Canadian traditional kayaker is dipping his paddle into a new attraction alongside some of the country鈥檚 most celebrated waters.
James Manke has officially opened what he believes is Canada鈥檚 first dedicated traditional kayak museum inside 鈥楾he Wreckage building鈥� a cherished heritage icon of Vancouver Island鈥檚 Pacific Rim.
Located in Ucluelet, The Wreckage鈥檚 visibly quirky exterior and Evelyn Mae vessel perched next to it is a popular photo spot for tourists and passersby, but the building has sat empty for the past few years waiting for a new vision to revitalize its locally hallowed walls.
鈥淪ince I鈥檝e moved here, there鈥檚 been a lot of talk about this building and how it holds a lot of significance for a lot of elders in this community who grew up here,鈥� Manke told the Westerly News. 鈥淚 had driven by the building many, many times and seen people looking in the windows and one day I was walking by and poked my head in the front window and I had a vision for this space. I saw a kayak museum and a community space and an area where we build kayaks.鈥�
Manke won Gold competing for Canada in the Greenland International Kayaking Championships in 2014 and has spent the past 12 years teaching traditional kayaking around the world.
鈥淔or 12 years travelling around the world, that was all based on the support of the kayak community, being able to live out my passion. This is my way of giving back. This is for the people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 to really encourage the growth of kayaking in this area.鈥�
He suggested Ucluelet is making a name for itself as a 鈥渒ayaking Mecca of Canada鈥� for its dynamic waters and proximity to the Broken Group Islands.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very quickly become a world class destination for kayakers,鈥� he said, adding that he hopes the new museum will help introduce kayaking to locals who may not know what they鈥檙e missing out on in their own backyard. 鈥淚t will help expose traditional kayaking and the history of kayaking to people that may not have had the chance to ever experience something like this.鈥�
Manke moved to Ucluelet with his partner Kim last year after frequently visiting the community as a kayak instructor.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent a lot of time in this area and every time I鈥檇 come to Ucluelet and I鈥檇 leave, I鈥檇 get heartache. I鈥檇 literally feel like I鈥檓 leaving home. So, last year, we decided that really is a true sign that this is home for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just an amazing balance for me being here.鈥�
He added he鈥檒l be collecting donations to bring youth into the space where he will help them build their own kayak and teach them how to roll before partnering with a local kayaking company to take them on a trip through the Broken Group Islands.
The space already houses several traditional kayaks and paddles with five more frames on their way from Greenland that Manke plans to hang from the ceiling.
鈥淭he ultimate goal that I have is that you鈥檒l walk into this place and there will just be framed kayaks all the way around you,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really love the frames of kayaks because it shows you the meticulous work and the hard work that鈥檚 actually been put into that craft. Sometimes, when you skin it, you don鈥檛 see all that amazing work that鈥檚 under there. That鈥檚 why I鈥檒l have a bunch in here that are just frames.鈥�
He explained his museum will offer opportunities to learn how to build traditional kayaks and paddles as well as a community lounge where international and local kayak instructors will give presentations and is equipped with a popcorn machine for movie nights.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a place where people can come and collaborate and be together,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he energy that you really get from being around like minded people is a very empowering feeling and, when the pandemic hit, we kind of lost a lot of that.
鈥淭his particular space is really intended to help rebuild and bring people back together and let people collaborate and share that stoke.鈥�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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